Need a desktop replacement laptop

[chrissy]

If you had a budget of around $1500, give or take a couple 100, what laptop would you get?

My el cheapo compaq that donnie bought before heading to Iraq a couple years ago has ate two hard drives in the past two months. I just want to buy a new hard drive, donnie wants to buy a new laptop. :) He has not taken the time to see if it's a hardware falure causing the hd failure or if it is temp related. It does get VERY hot. And I do use a cooling thing under it with two fans but it still get REALLY hot. He thinks it's poor design - the memory, hd and cpu all sit together.

If I have 2 instances of IE open, it is overworking the system.

So, yeah, I want to replace my now nonexistant desktop as it is now our HT system with a laptop. What would you get?

[asiong]

toshiba or vaio

[renovation]

go dell :)

[brainsmile]

Vaio? NOOOOO.... Dell is good or Lenovo

[ray]

One of the Dell XPS notebooks will serve you well.

[nate el bueno]

MSI hasn't been in the laptop business as long as some, but the specs on this are lovely

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834152103

[a-10tankkiller]

Possiby not as cheap as Dell, but good company and great support. www.powernotebooks.com

[bachviet]

Dell XPS but wait for the new version.

[chrissy]

what about asus? Donnie really likes thier mobo's

[renovation]

no asus laptop are hit and miss as to getting a good one. not sure but i think there made by others and have there name slap on them.

[nate el bueno]

One of my buddies went with an ASUS G1. The power cord went bad, and they replaced it for him. Someone here said that their support is bad, but it seemed to work for him. It's definitely a nice brand. I've never had trouble with them. You could easily find one of their 17 inchers with a Core 2 Duo and 8600 for less than your given budget.

[Jeffbx]

Sheesh, for sure not vaio.

For the price range you're in, I'd say Dell Latitude - E5500 (15") or E6400 (14"). These are SOLID business machines that will last you 4-5 years. Upgrade to 3 years of on-site warranty & they come to you if you have any problems.

Or, pop over to the Dell Outlet (http://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnlineSales/topics/global.aspx/arb/online/en/InventorySearch?c=us&cs=28&l=en&s=dfb) and look for those models or the D630 (14") or D830 (15"). Also very solid machines, but cheaper since they're a generation behind.

For what you want to spend, stay away from any store brands - you don't want anything you can walk into Best Buy and get there. Spend a little extra time on the Dell site & you can get a business class machine that will last much longer than the overpriced home machines you can get off the shelf.

[Nija]

I'll say it: Apple?

[ramazank2]

I just picked up a Dell Studio XPS 13 (XPS 1340) it is great!!!

[Jeffbx]

I'll say it: Apple?


Yeah, you're in the Mac price range too, if you're partial to those. REALLY nice machines. Rather expensive. But you'll look very creative when you're working at Starbuck's!

[chrissy]

Yeah, *I* thought about an apple - and donnie shot that down. He is a PC guy... *sigh* I haven't used a Mac since HS.

I priced the Dell XPS and the Asus G50 and the Asus was cheaper and won out. Yeah, I did buy out of the box and from Beast Buy, but I kinda needed it now and not later.

Thanks for the opinions as always :)

[nate el bueno]

Is "Beast Buy" a play on words or a typo?

And congrats- G50 is nice! So you got a 15 inch and not a 17 inch?

[Nija]

Yeah, you're in the Mac price range too, if you're partial to those. REALLY nice machines. Rather expensive. But you'll look very creative when you're working at Starbuck's!
It's perfect for the wife! I think I'll buy her some of those sexy square glasses that are the rage with the other *uppies at the local coffee spot. It should go well with her super tight pants and converse!

(I hate those people)

But on a serious note: I am looking at getting the wife an apple for school and so she can get used to it.

[chrissy]

Yeah, beast buy wasn't a typo. and it is going back to them today.

Long story short, when I bought it, the only one they had instore was "optimized" by "geek squad". And they removed the virus software and lojack from the system- they were free for a year. I was able to get the virus software on without an issue, but lojack told me to call BB and BB told me to call lojack...

So I called BB's 800 number and their resolution was to install the software and have me pay the monthly fee. So, Donnie ran formating software on it last night for about 14 hours :D and we will be returning it this afternoon when he gets home. I mean, it's not that it's not running, it's not that it's not a great computer, BUT the fact that they screwed it up and now they won't fix the simple issue.

So, off to look for something again but not going to be in a hurry - Donnie is going to let me use his Toshiba.

[Jeffbx]

For what you want to spend, stay away from any store brands - you don't want anything you can walk into Best Buy and get there. Spend a little extra time on the Dell site & you can get a business class machine that will last much longer than the overpriced home machines you can get off the shelf.

:stupid: :stupid:

[chrissy]

When we returned the system, they couldn't find the HD... Donnie had to show them where it was in the Bios.

We had fun.

So, yeah. You guys really like your Dells. My first laptop was a Dell...hmm.

BUT I saw this really cute HP at the BX tonight for $1049. It's on the front page here too - TX2-1020. But the one at the BX has more to it and there is an additonal $50 MIR... It seems really cool with the touch screen and all. I think I like the novelty of it. It would definately be fun to work with. Would have to run Win7 on it to see what it does with it.

Reviews are love and hate combined. Hmm...

Still having fun looking around.

[nate el bueno]

I just saw this on Ben's Bargains and thought I'd throw it out there. It's a ~1300 dollar laptop with a 550 dollar coupon code. 17 inch, 9600GT, the works.

http://www.techsunny.com/MSI_PowerPro_Super_Profesional/MSI-1722/partinfo-id-3234176.html
enter code:
bensnote17

[renovation]

i don't care how well i like the looks and extras a HP has i never own another one in life. that go's for a Desk Top or Laptop. only machine i ever give even a 2nd look at if it was a HP is a Server from there commercial business division.

[ShawnLee]

If you didn't need it NOW, I might suggest waiting a little until Win 7 came out later. But I'm liking the Dell XPS series.

[Jeffbx]

That could be a while - Windows 7 isn't scheduled to ship until Q1 of 2010.